Still.



A. QBUNGAN.

' STILL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1913.

Patented Nov. 10,

2 SHBETSSHEET l WW, 3W, WM.

A G DUNCAN,

STILL.

APPLIIGATIOII FILED mm: 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

vn W""" Be it known that I, AL XANDER I UNITED STATES AT NT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER G. DUNCAN, OI JULIET, ILLINOIS.

l s ecifi ati n of Iietters Patent. Application filed-June mime; SerialNo. 773,941.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Toallr whom it may concern G. Doncan .a citizen of the United States,residing at joliet, in the county of Will and State of 'Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stills, of which thefollowingis a specification.

My "invention relates to stills, and refers particularly, though notexclusively,- to stills which are used tfor the'purpose of abstract-v 1ing ammonia from ammoniaca-l 1i uors'.

1 cokeovens. In theprocessio from the coal, this gas containingaconsiden invention is'especially use ulforthe purification of gasgeneratedbfyf-byglproduct it'is Well known that a rich gasisdrivenbfiscrubbed in order to free it 'fromvarious imlpurities, and the waterused for the scrub-' ing operation absorbs a large quantity of: thegaseous ammonia. This solution isthen "heated with steam inflaz', stillso that theunimonia is driven off, then condensed andused for variouswell known purposes in the zontal partition to ts. The stills heretoforeuse have been open to -various objections. They have usually beenconstructed with a- 'plurality' e f-horizontally-dispo'sed partitions,each'of which contains one or more gas (steam) inlet openings suitablycovered by bells or hoods, and also one or more liquid outlet t''openings.

The liquor from which the ammonia is to be extracted is introduced atthe top of the still and passes downwardly from one horianother. At thesame time steam is introduced at the'bottom' of the'still and passesupwardly through the belied gas inlet openings in the variouspartitions.v This steam forces its way through 5 the liquid surroundingthe bells, and serves obliged to flow in a substantiiilly straightpathfrom to heat-the-liquid, thereby expelling ammonia, which passes upwar1y .Wit-hwthesteamQ It isthe object of my invention to over come thevarious difficulties above" men t ioned, and I accomplish this result bycon-1 structing each'of the hgrizgntally disposed partitions so that theammoniacal liquor is one side of the partition 'toflthe describedhereafter,

ngicoal.

securely held in position but may readily be removed. In order to obtainready access to the bells and various other interior parts oi the still,I also provide openings in the sides of the still, these openings beingnor- 1 mally sealed by suitable closures.

' These and other objects of my invention Wlll bemorereadily understoodby reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show a preferredembodiment of my improvemerits, and in which Figuredis a 'side'elevationand partial f verticalseetion' through my improved still; Fig. .2- is 1a fragmentary vertical section 1' through a portiono-f my still, thissection 1 being taken at a right-angle to that shown 1 in Fig. 1 randFig. 3 is a-fragmentary plan iof oneof the sections of which my still iscomposed. y The still is provided with abase 10, having therein asteaminlet opening 11 and a ,w'aste liquor outlet l2. Supported oii thebtislO and extending upwardly therefrom are a pluralityof still sections13 One of closures 17. The closures 17, however, may readily be removedin order togiveaccess- 1 to theinside of the still section. As mostclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

@ each of the still sections is preferably square or rectangular, andis'provide'd with one or more gas inlet openings 18 which arebound" along and narrow slot, and is covered with the bell 20, which extendsdownwardly over tween the extending fbells 20 engages anobliquely-disposed lock 26,, which engages the obliquely-disposed end ofthebell on the opposite side. v *The horizontally-disposed partition 28of ed by the upstanding flanges 19.* Eachfof the openings 18 ispreferably in the form of the flange 191 The bell 2.9 is provided with*supporting'lugs 21, but a' space 22 is left he;

flange 19 and the: downwardlyflange 23 of each bellas best ,i shown inFig. 3. At one end, each ofthe 105 ing surface 24 preferably formedint'egral' with the sealingwall'25l Theoppositeend of each bell itheldin position by thewe'dge surface 27 of the web' 27*. on one side and ththe sections 14 of Whichthe still is composed is" of specialconstruction,"thenpurposw-ofk which will be described hereafter.- Eachof ithe still sections 13 is,- provided-withi the y flanges 15 bymeansofwhich it is fastened by bolts or otherwise tdthe adjacentsections; a :In the side Walls of each section 13 are 'aper tures16which are normally closed by the.

each of the still sections 13 has toward one side thereof thesealingwall previously mentioned, and toward the o posite side the.damming wall 29, connecte wall of the section .b' the webs 29'. Immewith-the side diatelyadjacent tot e darnining wall 29 section 13.

i. i l

an inletopeni'ng or 'slot 33, a

f 15 la assembling the still the still ctions-13 are so placed that theoutlet opening 3070fonegsection registers with the inlet opening- 33 ofthe section fnext below j The San section is p mu' lygissiititiia ispreferably of somewhat greater E. height than the otherstillsections.13'ofwhich the still is oonstructed. It is ovidedwith the gas inletopenings 34 m .the; bells 35 of similar construction ito. those: used.connection with; the. other I still sections; but preferably somewhatlarger. .This' section I s provided with .a -'co'nduit; 36; havin thetion ffiQ -l ii elductliquidtherefrom t0- the still section .1nletopening 37 which re outlet 0 eningBO-ofthestill 30 mediate y abovethestill lsection 214; f Thie ar at l and is p we l: no n enemapipIe-ISS is also-adapted for ;connece lime tan-k -and ,.serves toconthrough theopening39 in the latter; ,=The uppermost stillgsection 13has coma; I

' municating .therewithathei pipe 40,- which'--.; 40-

i from which ammonia'iis' 120139,? extracted;

introduces; to; the: still; ection the liquor.

' This uppermost section is covered by the cap 41 having theoutlet42,which prefery wm at sfv th en;mm niwe v denser. t

- Having of, my improved still,. its operationmay, now

' be readily understood: "The armnoniacal liquor is first introduced: totheiiplper still section 13 throughthe' pipe 40. e liquor rises. in theleft-hand portion ioztrthis section (indicated in 'Fi 2) until it mat a;level with thenppere go of thesealing wall 25 The liquor then overflowsthis sealin wall I theapartition 28 until itreaches they'dama passestothe right .over. the sur ace ofanted; The H vfists=7m1ti-1 it rea es-the upper edge 0 the damming wall and then overflows: and passesintoth;

liquid outlet opening 30.: It .will be evident that-the level oislirtuormaintained inthe e of the. height of'the l pper edge, of the dammingwall'29. @Th' still section 13 will lower edge ofv the flange 23.,ofthe-hell 20 being w e r e srefafi e i Wiy form I steam orga' passingupwardly throu h the openings. 18 must pass through the iquor containedin the still section. The li uor ...5assing throu lifthe outlet opening30 ows ownwardly t rough the inlet .opening 33 I into the next lowerstill section 13,. this the out-let opening-30,'which referably air-ftends completely across one si set each still I I j the sealing wall 31is at a lower, level than I I of Ithefstillseetion at'which'thegsealingywall 25;. is located there is also -l'a sealing wall-filconn cted'to the side of the still. section'hythee-webs 32, thus liquorrising until it reaches the upper edge of the sealing .wa1l25. The loweredge of the upper edge of the sealing wall.. 25,

the interior of the still section to outlet openin'g30 of the nexthigher see- I tion. 1 The liquor -*then' flows through successive stillsections '13 in the manner first descrihedin connection with the 11 persec 'tion; The liquor. enterin the opening 37 of the conduit 36 inthesti 1 section 14 passes I tothe'limetank the manner previouslydescribed, where :the liquor; as is well known; is 'subjectedto 'htmt,whichv serves to facilitate the exp'ulsion. of ammonia from, the

through the waste .liquor outlet 12. in the sal sm n While.theliquor isflowing through the 3 ammoniacal liquor; vThe liquor mixed with '1 iacertain. percentage of lime returns to the still sect-ion 14,; throughthe-pipe 38 and-the j opening 39;;passes through the outlet open- 1 5ing 30 of section; and then passes sues; fcessively -through the stillsections 13 below 7 the section l'iiin the manner previously de II I I'scrib'ed.; l The; liquor finally-passes out p tfifii ds tank, s h as s5 .lisuallyeemployed inp o n nj "with" still in the manner justdescribed,'the steam. ,1

, introducedthrough thesteam inlet 11 passes upwardly-through.theopenings lS m-the lowermost still section 13., Theseopeningsrf 18preferably. have their axes at 'substantiallya right-angle to the axesof the 0 lugs '30 and 33.1 By the action of the fills 20=,this;,steam.is' forced through I the ammoniacalliquor adjacent to said bells; and

- servestoheat said liquor, thereby expellingammonia therefrom, thisgaseous ammonia. -passingupwardly with the steam.- On ac-- .countof the.flow of the liquor from one side I 'fofi each still sectiont'o' theother, fresh liquor; is constantly presented forthe action of the steam,and .for this reason the. expulsion of anunoniain my still is veryefliciently performed. M As previously described,.the steam passing, .jupwardly and carrying ammonia with it can only. pass through the gasinlet I openingslS on .account of the fact that the. 1-.

liquid 1nlet openings-33 are efficiently sealed reaching the uppermoststill sectior 13 pass ammonia condenserJ.

.. When it is desiredto remove oneffof v the by the joint action of thesealing walls 25" and 31.-- Thesteam and .ammonia'after -hells 20 it isonly. necessary to first remove one ofthe closures 17, then withdrawthe.

wedge 26,- after which the bell mayreadily- -i [game tion comprising ahorizontally-disposed pen tition having a liquid outlet opening at oneside and a dammin'g wall adjacent said opening, a sealing wall spacedapart from the. side wall of said section on the side opposite saidoutlet opening and having its lower edge clear of said partition,thereby forming a liquid inlet opening, the liquid inlet opening of eachsection registering with the liquid outlet opening of the section nextabove, and a second sealing wall extendin upwardly from the partition ofeach of sai sections in proximity to said first sealing wall and havingits upper edge on a higher level than the lower edge of the firstsealing wall, whereby a liquid seal is formed by the liquid passing intoeach section throu h said liquid inlet opening, substantially asescribed. v

2. In a still, the combination of a plurality of substantiallyrectangular still sections one above another, each section comprising ahorizontally-disposed partition having an elongated liquid outletopening atone side thereof and a dammin wall adjacent said opening, asealin wal spaced apart from and of 'substantia y the same length as theside wall of said section on the sideopposite ower edge clear of saidpartition, thereby formingan elongated liquid inlet openmg, the

liquid inlet opening ofleach section registering with a section nextabove,

the liquid outlet opening of the and a second sealmgwall extending uwardly from the partition of each of sai sections, said second sealinwall being substantiall arallel with said first sealing wall an l theliquid outlet opening of said ,section, the upper edge of said secondsealing wall be ing at a higher level than the lower edge of the firstsealing wall, whereb a llquid seal will be formed when liqui flows intosaid section through said inlet liquid open mg, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a still, the combination of a plurality of still sections oneabove another, each section comprising a horizontally-disposed partitionhaving a liquid outlet opening toward one side and a gas inlet opening,a damming wall adjacent said liquid outlet opening, a sealing wallspaced apart from the side wall of said section onthe side opposite saidoutlet opening and having its lower edge clear of "said partition,theresealing ocated nearer to by liming a liquid inlet opening, theliquid inlet opening of each section registering with the liquidoutletopeniag of the section next"-aho ve,and a second eealin wallextendin upwardly from the partition ofeach o f sai' sections inproximity to said first sealing wall and having its a peredge on ahigher level than the lower of the first sealingwall, whereby a liquidand is formed by "the liquid paesin into each section through saidliquid 1 et opening,- substantially as described; v

ulna stilh the combination of'aplural ity of substantially rectangularstill sections Lone above another, each sectioncomprhsinghorizontally-disposed partition having an elongated liquid outletopening at one side thereof and an elongated gas inlet opening havingits axis at substantially a right-angle to the axis of said liquidoutlet 0 suing, a damming wall adjacent said liqui outlet opening,whereby the liquid in said section may be maintained at a predeterminedheight, means for forcin gas introduced through said inlet openingthrough the liquid in said section, a sealing wall spaced apart from andof substantially the same length as the side wall of said section on theside opposite said outlet opening, the lower edge of said sealing wallbeing clear of said partition,

thereby forming an elongated liquid inlet opening, the liquid inletopenin of each section registering with. the liquid outlet opening ofthe section next above, and a second sealin wall extending upwardly fromthe partition of each of said sections, said second sealing wall beingsubstantially parallel with said first sealin wall and located nearer tothe liquid out et opening of said section, the upper edge of said secondWell being at a higher level than the lower edge of the first sealingwall, whereby a liquid seal will be formed when liquid flows into saidsection through said liquid inlet opening, substantially as described.

5. In a still, the combination of a plural ity of still sections oneabove another, each section having a horizontally-disposed parone aboveanother, each section comprising a horizontally-disposed partitionhaving an elongated gas inlet opening. ;therein, an upwardly extendingflange surrounding said openin a bell above said openin the lower edge csaid bell'extending to a ower'level hm up?Hr d Placid-flare losses meanson said partition engaged by, one end off'said bell,v and readilyremovable wed e means for securing thelop osite end of said bell to saidpartition, su stantially as described.

7. In a still, the combination of a plural-' ity of substantiallyrectangularstill sections one above another, each section having anopening in its side'fwall, readily removable means for closing'saldopening, each of said sections comprismg'a horizontall -disposedpartition having an elongated gas mlet openmgtherem, upwardly extendingflange n i pza surrounding said opening; a bell aboveesaid opening, thelower edgeof said bell extend- 15 ing to a lower level than the upperedge at said flan e, locking means on said artition engaged y one end ofsaid bell, an readily removable wedge means vfor securing the oppositeend of said bell to said partition, 20

substantially as described. 7 h I I 1 AL XAN E DUNCAN. Witnesses: .w

THOMAS J. SAMPsoN,

;WILBUR C. FRY, Jr.

